SITREP 5/29 1600: MILITARY CONVOY ACCIDENT LEADS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KABUL 002436

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/FO, S/CT, SA/A
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN, KAMEND
CENTCOM FOR POLAD, CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76
TREASURY FOR LMCDONALD, WBALDRIDGE, APARAMESWARAN, ABAUKOL
STATE PLEASE PASS USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
REL NATO/ISAF, AUS, NZ

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR PTER AF
SUBJECT: SITREP 5/29 1600: MILITARY CONVOY ACCIDENT LEADS
TO RIOTS IN KABUL

Classified By: AMBASSADOR RONALD NEUMANN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY. A vehicle accident on the outskirts of Kabul
involving a US military supply convoy resulted in at least
one Afghan casualty and led to rioting around Kabul on May

29. The situation in Kabul as of 1600 local time was calm
except for some small protests in the northwestern suburbs of
Kabul. The number of casualties and protesters involved
remains unconfirmed. As of 1600, all Embassy personnel are
accounted for. President Karzai has postponed a trip to
Qatar; in a meeting with Ambassador this afternoon, he was
focused on whether other cities will remain quiet and whether
there was any preplanning behind this incident. END SUMMARY.

Details of Accident Still Unclear
--------------


2. (C) CFC-A reports that around 0810 local time a vehicle
in a supply convoy moving from Bagram Air Base to Kabul
apparently experienced a mechanical (brake) malfunction and
hit several smaller local vehicles in the Saray-e Shomali
area in the northern suburbs of Kabul, killing at least one
Afghan. The military vehicle appears to have been a large
truck that was unable to stop as it was coming down a slope.
The crowd that gathered quickly became hostile, and CFC-A
drivers left the scene. An undetermined number of additional
Afghans may have been killed or injured during the accident
and during post-accident clashes between Afghan National
Police (ANP) and protesters. CFC-A is conducting a thorough
investigation into the accident.


3. (C) Afghan news and local politicians report that the
convoy had been driving recklessly, edging several vehicles
off the road before causing the accident. We have no
confirmation that these reports are true. Unconfirmed
reports indicate that a roadblock may have been set up at
Saray-e Shomali in anticipation of the convoy coming through.
Conspiracy theories abound and all should be treated with
skepticism for the time being. A well-positioned video
camera was located at the traffic circle where the initial
protests took place, which took video that was aired shortly
after the event, including on al-Jazeera. Press coverage of
the accident was biased: one CFC-A humvee was shown on
national TV firing shots, followed by images of the Afghan(s)
killed or injured, without showing that the shots were
actually fired into the air.

Rioting in Kabul Quieting
--------------


4. (SBU) The reaction to the accident began with
rock-throwing in Saray-e Shomali, but became inflamed over
the course of the day. As of 1600 local time, the following
events were reported in the local press and Embassy contacts:

-- At 1300, violent demonstrators approached the Embassy from
the west. When they reached within 500 meters of the
Embassy, Afghan National Police (ANP) fired warning shots and
dispersed the crowd. Two other groups of protesters
approaching the Embassy from the SW and North were also
dispersed by the ANP.
-- The airport is secure, and after being temporarily blocked
by protesters, accessible.
-- CARE International's offices (in Shahr-e Naw near
downtown) were burned and reportedly completely destroyed.
This property is owned by the US government and leased to
CARE International. Their staff are all accounted for and
safe.
-- The residence of USAID contractor IRD was burned down. In
total 14 AID contractors were left homeless; all have found
places to stay, including two now residing at the Embassy.
-- The Serena Hotel (downtown) was damaged by looters who
broke windows and destroyed facilities on the most accessible

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side of the building.
-- The Ariana TV station (in West Kabul close to Parliament)
was partially burned.
-- Various guard booths and police booths around Wazir Akbar
Khan (the district near the US Embassy and the location of
most foreign missions) were set on fire.
-- The 11th District Police Station (in NW Kabul),as well as
several other police guard booths, were looted and burned.
Also in the 11th District, protesters attacked local
businesses.
-- There are numerous unconfirmed reports of other damage
across the city. A report that the German Embassy was
attacked is false (German DCM-Amb. Neumann telcon).


5. (SBU) Contacts at MOI state that ANP and Afghan National
Army (ANA) forces have been stationed around Kabul and the
situation has quieted in 80-85 percent of the city. As of
1600, there was only violence reported in Khair Khana
district and other districts in northwest Kabul. MOI sources
stated that the rioters appeared to be unarmed, but that they
were throwing stones and attempting to burn down buildings.


6. (SBU) There are no definite reports of the number of
groups protesting, or the numbers of protesters involved.
There are no confirmed reports of ANP or others firing into
any crowd of protesters. Most local businesses closed early
in the rioting, and some reports indicated that shopkeepers
fired in the air to protect their businesses. Initial
reports from MOI are that 15 protesters have been arrested,
and more arrests will take place this evening. MOI also
reports local hospitals are busy treating injured from
today's protests, but no clear numbers are available.

GOA Response
--------------


7. (SBU) When the protesters approached Parliament, Lower
House Speaker Yunus Qanooni and several other MPs (including
Saleh Regestani from Panjshir) went out to speak to the
protesters. After speaking to Ambassador Neumann, Qanooni
said that the Coalition forces would compensate victims of
the accident - and if they didn't, Qanooni himself would pay
compensation. In his conversation with the leaders of the
demonstrators, which received coverage on Ariana TV, he said
that he had spoken to the US Ambassador, and that the
Ambassador had said that the Ambassador had expressed his
regret over the incident. According to press reports, the
protesters began dispersing from around Parliament after
Qanooni's comments. Qanooni, other MPs, and the Attorney
General also issued public statements calling for calm.

US Response
--------------


8. (SBU) CFC-A issued two statements commenting on the
accident, the first one stating that the incident was an
accident. The second statement, issued at 1400, contained
more detail about the accident, noted that Coalition troops
at the scene had rendered immediate medical assistance to the
injured, and expressed regret about the incident. It also
noted that compensation would be given to those who are
entitled to it.


9. (SBU) The US Embassy was in lockdown (with American and
local employees moved to secure locations) from around 1300
to 1600. All Embassy employees are accounted for. Post
plans to follow a reduced staffing plan for Tuesday, May 30.

Karzai
--------------


10. (C) Ambassador saw President Karzai around 15:30.
Karzai feels police performed poorly but Post thinks the

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picture is more mixed. Karzai deferred a planned trip to
Qatar today and will remain in Kabul tomorrow. His relations
with Qanooni remain strained. Karzai is mainly focused on
whether other cities will remain quiet and whether there was
any preplanning for the event.

Comment
--------------


10. (C) It will take additional time to determine whether
these protests were the result of anything more than
spontaneous outrage over a traffic accident. The presence of
a video camera at the scene of the initial protests and the
possible motivation behind it and the negative media
coverage, are also the cause for some suspicion. Unconfirmed
reports also indicate that some protesters were carrying
white flags - a symbol of support for the Taliban. In his
meeting with Ambassador, President Karzai indicated he may go
on national television tonight; meanwhile, he issued a
statement appealing for calm, expressing regret, and calling
on coalition forces to conduct an investigation.
NEUMANN